Leica M3 Review – The Ultimate Rangefinder Camera!?
Buying a Leica M3.. Where it started!
Fuji GF670 Rangefinder Camera
As a follower of this blog you will know I am a Leica M9 35mm digital rangefinder shooter. I recently decided to search for a camera one step closer to ‘perfection’ in terms of rangefinder cameras so invested in a Fuji GF670 Pro medium format film rangefinder (6×6 / 6×7 format). A folding camera with a medium format size sensor and a super sharp lens. It produces beautifully big 6×6/ 6×7 negatives with tonnes of detail when scanned. It is portable and I can use it will off camera strobes with a leaf shutter sync speed of 1/500. I thought it was pretty cool.
Leica M3 Film Camera
I then bought a 1950s Leica M3 35mm film rangefinder with a 0.91x viewfinder. It looks near identical to my Leica M2 and for the most part all the benefits are the same for the M2 and the M3. The biggest plus of the M3 is the viewfinder. I have a lot of cameras and it is without doubt my favourite viewfinder of any camera. Big clear and bright with easy to see 50mm framelines and nothing else cluttering the view. I paired the M3 with a Leica Summicron 50mm f2 v5 lens with a E39 filter thread.
Leica M3 vs Fuji GF670 Wedding
This weekend I had a Leica wedding here in the UK and offered the couple the option of some film photography in addition to digital Leica M9 images. They were interested and purchased the film photography wedding package option so I took the Fuji GF670 loaded with colour 120 Fuji Pro 400H film and then the Leica M3 loaded with black and white 35mm film, Kodak T-Max 100.
Leica M3 Review vs Fuji Gf670
I didn’t let the three cameras (Leica M9 + Leica M3 + Fuji GF670) distract me from the wedding photography task so waited and brought them out for the wedding portrait images (plus a few bridal prep shots). I then had to chose when to shoot colour and when B&W film, and when 6×6 format and when 6×4 35mm format. What I noticed straight away was the little Leica M3 fitted my hand like it was made to go there. Using the M3 was intuitive and felt natural (possible because I have used the M9 so much!). I was using natural light with the M3 but off camera speedlight for some of the GF670 shots. It made me realise that sometimes you don’t need all the fancy lights, big lenses, and larger camera sensors, I just needed the little M3, the 50mm Summicron and some available light. The Leica M3 is fast and is kind of an extension from your arm / eyes. No fuss, no electronics, just beautifully pure photography. By keeping the setup simple the Leica M3 photos flowed, the wedding couple forgot the camera and the natural poses and relaxed smiles followed. (This was quite an achivement as both the bride and groom really didn’t like being in front of a camera).
A “cute” elegant vintage film camera is far less scary than a big DLSR with a 70-200mm lens stuck on the front. The little M3 actually became a talking point and was a welcomed sight for a number of the wedding guests.
All the above “keep it simple” advantages also apply to my Leica M2 if I used a 35mm lens with the 35mm viewfinder. I have used the Leica M2 this year for various model shoots.
I wasn’t expecting the Leica M3 to have such an impact but it is letting me appreciate photography in the simplest form. I can transfer this mentality into the rest of my photography such as using the M9 with one small lens. It has also let me evaluate how I shoot and how I will approach future weddings when shooting film.
I’m sure I will have a lot more rave reviews to follow for the Leica M3 and more example images too but my review so far is it is a fantastic camera and my new number one favourite camera of all the 35mm and medium format cameras I own. The viewfinder is just magical! 🙂
Model photography sample images
Fuji GF670 Portrait Images
Leica M2 Portrait Images
Leica M3 Portrait Images
https://www.flickr.com/photos/32681588@N03/15664205879
https://www.flickr.com/photos/32681588@N03/15834261941
https://www.flickr.com/photos/32681588@N03/16659389098
https://www.flickr.com/photos/32681588@N03/16208691772/
..Don’t get me wrong. The Fuji GF670 can produce stunning negatives but you just don’t get the same enjoyment you get with the Leica M3 when operating the camera.
I really enjoyed reading this post Matt, and the images are lovely.
Hi Lyn, many thanks for the kind words! 🙂
Matt, great post, I thought you’d be smitten be the M3. It was voted best gadget of all time by Stuff Magazine (of all people lol). Karen Nakamura has a good write-up on the M3 here http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/LeicaM3.html
Looking forward to seeing your images.
Best
Dave
Hi Matt,
Congrats for your great blog! I discovered it seraching about Rodinal Stand….
I really love your results, expecially those with Leica M2 above.
I see you used 1:150.
Could you please tell me the minimum requirement for 35mm & 120 rolls (e.g. is 2ml rodinal:300 ml water enough for 35mm)?
Another question: Did you ever print some of those negatives? How do perform for wet printing?
Thanks!
Hi Donato,
Sorry for the delayed reply. I make up 1 litre at 1:150 using 7ml to develop two rolls of film. In the past I have made up 600ml to develop one roll. It is safer to make slightly more solution than needed. I had problem in past where solution was insufficient to cover all the film so every photo was 2/3 developed only (the amount covered).
To answer your question I have never tried 2ml/ 300ml. I have not yet done any wet prints as I do not have the equipment, sorry.
Matt
Thanks Matt!
Think I’ll try your diluition soon… 😉
Spectacular photos, sir. You are very talented.
Thanks iamamro! 🙂
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Hi Matt,
Apologies for coming (very) late to this but the Photographers Gallery in London opened its Bert Hardy: Photojournalism in ‘War and Peace’ exhibition on 23 February.
Besides many recognisable and ‘new’ images (at least to me) is a Leica M3 used by him.
This was one of a number of cameras he was allowed to buy as part of his compensation settlement when he left Hulton Press Limited in 1959.
A letter dated 7 September states that he is to receive a Ford Zephyr car, and a payment of £3000.
He can also buy the following from the company:
One 5 x 4 Linhof Camera No. 36150.
One 127 mm Schneider lens No. 3043016.
One 150 mm Schneider lens No. 3379616.
One 240 mm Schneider lens No. 3227046.
One 90 mm Schneider lens No. 2488952.
One case and slides.
One 3 3/4x 4 1/4 Graflex camera No. 464475 with Ektar lens No. ES 4418, with case and slides.
One Leica camera No. 741465 with 3.5 c.m. Summicron lens No. 1176877.
One Leica camera No. 736210 with 5 c.m. Summicron lens, No. 1192280.
One 20 c.m. Leitz lens (Telyt) No.416175.6
One 40 c.m. lens (Tele Mergor) No. 721668.
One Rolleiflex camera No. 1212173.
One Rolleiflex camera No. 1299488.
One Mecablitz flash gun.
One 13.5. c.m. Hektor lens No. 1206088.
One of the M3s referred to in the letter is the one featured in the exhibition .
And the cost?
All for an agreed price of £175!
An online calculator values the total settlement in 2024 as almost £87,500 and the cost of the cameras and lens as around £5,200.
Even allowing for the cost of living at the time and inflation it’s not a bad deal.
Now if only I can remember where I left the Time Machine…